South Branch of the Raritan Bug Sampler

Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions posted this great video with a sample of he bugs found in the South Branch of the Raritan.

First appearing is a willow nymph, or early black stone fly nymph.  The early black stone is makes it's first appearance in February and March when temperatures start to rise in the late afternoon.  This hatch offers some great winter dry fly fishing, but don't forget the nymphs which are in the stream all year.

Next is the Isonychia bicolor, also called Iso, Slate Drake, or Lead Wing.  Found in fast moving  riffles in highly oxygenated water, these nymphs are fast swimmers that dart along the stream bottom. These mayflies start emerging in midsummer and hatch in to the fall.

Followed by one of my favorite bugs the scud because they are very abundant an in the streams year round.  Tim's video show how prominent the orange is in the natural.

Then there are two may fly nymphs one from the genus Ephemerella (Sulpher) and the other  from the genus Maccaffertium (March Brown or Cahill).

Trichoptera (Caddisflies) are next on the scene with Hydropsyche, which is a free living net builder, which are important because they get dislodged from time-to-time and drift down stream during times of behavioral drift.  

Finally a Gastropoda or snail which float and crawl most of our streams.

The one bug I did not mention was the Water Penny, which is a beetle larva that the Sulpher nymph was riding.  I don't know the type of beetle it becomes, but a cress bug imitation should represent this bug quite well.

Tim's South Branch Sampler 1/17/14 is a wonderful sample to the food available to trout in our streams in New Jersey and a great reference to use when designing fly patterns.

I recommend you check out Tim's other videos at Tightline Productions on Vimeo.

K.I.S.S. Scud

Scud's are translucent and range from tan to light olive.

This is a scud from one of my local streams. Scud's are an overlooked food source by many anglers, it's very abundant an in the streams year round.

Most Czech nymphs imitate Caddis larva but they also imitate scuds. I use fluorescent orange thread to add a small hot spot on the rear and behind the bead.

This K.I.S.S. pattern is easy and a quick tie.



Size – 14 - 16 Grub Hook
Thread – Danville Flymaster Plus 210,  Fluorescent Orange 503
Head – Tungsten Bead 2.3 mm,  Gold
Body – Hairline Ice Dub UV Tan
Shell Back – Pearl Flashabou
Rib – Fine Copper Wire

Yellow Monga Streamer

While tying with "The Jersey Angler" I was playing with some streamer patterns getting ready for the fall.  This patten is inspired by Bob Jacklin's "South Branch Chub."  I'll try to post it some time soon.

Hook: 6X long streamer
Size: 6-10
Thread: Yellow UNI-Stretch.
Body: Yellow UNI-Stretch.
Ribbing: Gold Tinsel and Copper Wire.
Wing: White and Black Monga Ringtail Hair (sparsely dressed).
Head: Chinese Red UNI-Stretch.

 1. Mash down barb and bead and wind on lead wire.

  2. Gold Tinsel and Copper Wire.

 3. Wind on the Yellow UNI-Stretch to form the body.

 4. Advance the Gold Tinsel with open turns (counter clockwise).

5. Advance the Copper Wire with open turns (clockwise).

6. Tie in the white and black Ringtail Monga hair wing.

7. Whip finish the yellow UNI-Stretch, finish
the head with Chinese Red UNI-Stretch 

and apply head cement.

I got out the other day when the weather had gotten cooler and decide to give the Yellow Monga a try and I wasn't disappointed. Both rainbows hit it this fly like a runaway freight train.

The first victim of the Yellow Monga.

The second victim of the Yellow Monga.

Making a better leech – "The Modeled Leech"

When I was out with my boys on a stream this past spring they found a leech while rooting around the bottom. Here is a shot of that leech.

Notice the modeling pattern, we all know woolly buggers make a great leech pattern. For years I've been palmering them with grizzly saddle hackle for that modeling effect.  Here is what I think is a better leech pattern and in keeping with the K.I.S.S rule I'm using very miminal materials.  Now every body of water will have different colored leech so tie this pattern in brown, olive, bright green and gray.

 Modeled Leech

                                        Hook – Mustad 79580 or any streamer hook

                                        Size – 4-12
                                        Thread – 8/0 or 6/0 Olife
                                        Tail and Body – Olive Marabou
                                        Rib – .32 gauge Greem Parawire
                                        Head – Black Brass or Tungsten Bead
                                        Weight – .022 lead Wire

Mash down your barb and slip on bead.

Wrap your lead wire to the hook and push it towards the bead.

Tie in your wire.

Take a black Sharpie and model both side of one marabou feather.

Tie in your marabou feather with 5 or 6 wraps and advance your thread.

Wrap your marabou forward (counter clock wise)
and tie-off, then trimming the waist.

Advance your wire (clock wise) and tie-off.

Go in with your Sharpie and enhance the modeling.

 

Secure with a Whip finish and head cement.